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Connecticut News
Local News
Fighting Fraud in the New Year: How to Protect Yourself from Scams in 2025
Jan 14, 2025
Scams
scam prevention
tips
Eversource and Waterbury Police offer tips to avoid becoming a victim
BERLIN, Conn. (January 14, 2025) – With the holiday season in the rearview mirror and a new year underway, scammers are still hard at work focusing on new victims. Imposters often take advantage of this busy time of year, posing as Eversource representatives and threatening to disconnect customers’ power unless they make an immediate payment on the spot. The energy company is reminding residents and businesses to be on the lookout for common signs of scams, whether it’s in person, over the phone, or online.
“Many scammers are successful because they use scare tactics and threats, demanding customers act quickly or face serious consequences if they don’t give money or personal information,” said Eversource Senior Vice President for Customer Operations and Digital Strategy Jared Lawrence. “These imposters take advantage of the panic someone might feel after hearing, with little warning, that their power will be shut off in the middle of winter. We want customers to remember that we will never demand instant payment over the phone, require gift cards or other non-standard methods of payment, or request personal information in an unsolicited call, text message, or email. If you ever question that the person you’re speaking with isn’t who they say they are, hang up right away, and give us a call at 800-286-2000.”
Police departments around the state regularly receive reports of imposter scams. “Scammers employ many tactics, including posing as representatives of utility companies, but the end goal is always the same: to steal personal information or money from residents and businesses,” said Chief Fernando Spagnolo of the Waterbury Police Department. “It’s important to remember that just because your caller ID display shows the name of a legitimate company, it doesn’t mean it’s them; that information can be faked. If you receive a scam call, please report it to your local police department, which can help raise awareness and protect others from these fraudulent activities.”
Eversource and Waterbury Police also offer these additional tips to help avoid becoming a victim:
- Eversource representatives do not require the use of prepaid debit cards, such as Green Dot MoneyPak, Vanilla, or Reloadit. They will also never ask customers to pay using a Bitcoin ATM or a gift card.
- Eversource representatives never request customers meet at a department or grocery store to make a payment.
- Customers should never provide personal, financial, or account information to any unsolicited person on the phone, at the door, or online, even if they seem legitimate.
- Eversource does not solicit door-to-door or on the phone on behalf of third-party energy suppliers.
- All Eversource employees carry photo identification; field workers wear clothing with the company logo and drive company vehicles.
- Customers who are scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment receive written notice that includes information on how to maintain their service.
- Customers who doubt a call, in-person interaction, text, or email is legitimate should call Eversource directly to confirm the authenticity of the contact.
- Customers should not search for Eversource’s phone number or website through a search engine. You can find contact information, including the website, on your Eversource bill.
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is recognized as the #1 U.S. utility on TIME’s List of World’s Best Companies for 2024. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity to 1.28 million customers in 149 cities and towns, provides natural gas to 251,000 customers in 74 communities, and supplies water to approximately 217,000 customers in 59 communities across Connecticut. Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
CONTACT:
Tricia Taskey Modifica
860-665-4605
Jamie Ratliff
860-665-6056